Clementine closes her eyes when he cups her cheek. The gesture surprises her but it does- it comforts too. People don't ever- Physical affection isn't common. People get tired and worn out and stamped, and in her world, she can't remember the last time anyone even hugged her (her father used to hold her face like that when she was scared). She closes her eyes briefly against the rapid burning at the edges of those eyes before she looks up at him when he speaks. She rarely ever looks away from anyone, from anything. It's something Carver commended in her. He thought she was like him, and maybe she is like him in some ways though she believes what Georgia told her (he wanted to manipulate her, to use her, to quiet her). But she has to be like him in some ways, because she does know how to make terrible choices.
She is capable of doing what needs to be done.
If there's anything she knows how to do, it's survive. She breathes in, steadies herself, feels the reassurance in the meaning behind his words.
"Thank you for saying so."
Nothing ever feels brave in the moment. It feels desperate and strained.
"It's just me and AJ now. The baby."
It's why she asked him more about being a father now, because she's going to take care of AJ by herself. "I don't think I'm ready either, but it's good to know maybe I never would have been either." She's joking mostly cause she's actually scared. Scared of letting AJ down, scared of not being able to protect him. Scared because she never would have chosen this but she took one look at AJ and she has to try.
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Clementine closes her eyes when he cups her cheek. The gesture surprises her but it does- it comforts too. People don't ever- Physical affection isn't common. People get tired and worn out and stamped, and in her world, she can't remember the last time anyone even hugged her (her father used to hold her face like that when she was scared). She closes her eyes briefly against the rapid burning at the edges of those eyes before she looks up at him when he speaks. She rarely ever looks away from anyone, from anything. It's something Carver commended in her. He thought she was like him, and maybe she is like him in some ways though she believes what Georgia told her (he wanted to manipulate her, to use her, to quiet her). But she has to be like him in some ways, because she does know how to make terrible choices.
She is capable of doing what needs to be done.
If there's anything she knows how to do, it's survive. She breathes in, steadies herself, feels the reassurance in the meaning behind his words.
"Thank you for saying so."
Nothing ever feels brave in the moment. It feels desperate and strained.
"It's just me and AJ now. The baby."
It's why she asked him more about being a father now, because she's going to take care of AJ by herself. "I don't think I'm ready either, but it's good to know maybe I never would have been either." She's joking mostly cause she's actually scared. Scared of letting AJ down, scared of not being able to protect him. Scared because she never would have chosen this but she took one look at AJ and she has to try.